BROTHER JONATHAN.
The origin of this term, as applied to the United States, is as follows:
When General Washington, after being appointed commander of the army of the Revolutionary war, came to Massachusetts to organize it, and make preparations for the defense of the country, he found a great want of ammunition and other means necessary to meet the powerful foe he had to contend with, and great difficulty to obtain them. If attacked in such condition, the cause at once might be hopeless.
On one occasion, at that anxious period, a consultation of the officers and others was held, when it seemed no way could be devised to make such preparations as were necessary. His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull the elder was then Governor of the State of Connecticut, on whose judgment and aid the General placed the greatest reliance, and remarked, "We must consult Brother Jonathan on the subject."
The General did so, and the Governor was successful in supplying many of the wants of the army. When difficulties afterward arose, and the army was spread over the country, it became a by-word, "We must consult Brother Jonathan." The term Yankee is still applied to a portion, but Brother Jonathan has now become a designation of the whole country, as John Bull has for England.
"DUCK."
"Duck" is a game that should be played by a number exceeding three, but not more than six or eight. Each of the players being provided with a large pebble or stone about twice the size of a cricket-ball, called a "duck," one of them, by chance or choice, places his duck on a large smooth-topped stone fixed in the ground. An offing being marked at eight or ten yards' distance from the stone, the other players cast their ducks at it in turn, endeavoring to knock the duck off its place.
Each player, as soon as he has cast his duck, watches for an opportunity of carrying it back to the offing, so as to cast again. If the player whose duck is on the stone can touch another after he has taken up his stone, and before he reaches the offing, provided his own duck remain on the large stone, then the player so touched is out, and changes places with the player at the stone. It sometimes happens that three or four of the players' ducks lie so close together that the player whose duck is on the stone can stand in a situation to be within reach of all of them; in this case they can not, without running the risk of being touched, pick up until one of those who are at the offing is lucky enough to strike the duck off the large stone; then, before its owner can replace it, which he must do before he can touch a player, they all take up their ducks and run to the offing, where, of course, they are safe.